Pressure indicator and regulator.



RQ Mms. PRESSURE IN DIGAT 0R. AND REGULATOR.

APPLIGTION FILED MAB.. 26, 190.8.

Patented Sept 22, 1908 Pnnss'uns INDICATOR ANDREGULATOR.

. Specification 'of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 22, 1908.

Application filed March 2c, 190s. serial 10,423,371

To all 'zr/mm it 'mf/ff camara."

Bc il known that l, .lh-)near l".-\uu-:s, a citizen of the l'nilcdiSlatcs, residing at `Williamsport, in thc 'county ol' liycoming and Slate of lclmsvlvania, lia-ve invented cert-ain new and uscful .improvements in Pressure In dicalors and lrtegulators, and do hereby declarc that the following is a full, clear, and

exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this speci'lication, and to the letters and igurcs of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to prcssure indicators and regulators, and my object is to `provide s a device of this description which in some of its embodiments is specially fitted for pneumatic tires, such as those used for automobiles, butwhich is applicable to ,any {luidpressure receiving apparatus, by which the exact pressure within the tire or other apparatus may be indicated, and by which any excessof pressure may be automatically relieved, and which, as in the case of pneumatie tires, may be a pcrn'ianent attachment, so that the bother or anuoyanzfiiyl applying be obviated, and withal to provide Aan absolu-tely efficient device of` Lthis description which will be as simple in construction as is possible with reliability, and besides these objects, I attain otheL-objects, as will hereinafter appear, that grow out of or are in a measure incidental to the structure I have f invented for my purpose as above stated, and

some of which are important, irrespective of the function of my device as a pressure indicater and regulator, and for the attainment of the objects of my mvcntion, sald inventlon consists 1n a device constructed substantiallyv as hereinafter specified and claimed.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is avertical longitudinal section of an embodiment of my mventlon, especially adapted for a. pneumatic tire, portions ofthe device being shown in elevation; Fig. 2 a detail view inperspective .of the. extensible and contractible connection'between the valve and the tirev connection, by vwhich. communication between the interior of` theftire and the pressure-res f ceiving device is maintained and pressure applied-to said device, and a-portion of the scaleearing tube and Fig`` 3 a detail view inver` tical section of a portion of the device shown in Fig. 1, when a different form of pressurerelieving means is employed.

In view of the fact that l have developed my invention in a form suited for pneumatic. tires, `and I desire to cover by my patent in addition to its broad or gencralpfeatures, those features of my device that are of spocial importance in relation to pneumatic tires, 1 illustrate in' the drawings and shall describe such an embodiment of my invention; with the understanding that I do not thereby restrict myself in the embodiment of the broad features thereof, to its use with pneumatic tires or any particular Huid-pressure receiving or contanung apparatus.

ln developing my invention for and adapting it to a pneumatic tire, l use it in connection with or make it a part of the valve mechanism through which air is injected into the' tire and therein retained, and I retain the externally threaded cylindrical stem or casing 1 commonly used with valves for automobile tires, which at one end has an enlargement or foot 2 that engages the interior wall of the tire tube, and together with a nut 3 and plate 4 on the outside of the tire tube, constitutes a clamp for the attachremoving and caring for the indicator may ment of the mechanism 'to the tube. I also retain the usual dust cover or cap 5, but instead of screwing it directly upon the stem` 1, I screw upon the stem 1 a sleeve or tube 6 that is threaded internally to engage the thread of the stem 1, and externally to engage the internal thread of the ca 5, so that, for a reason hereinafter appcarlng, the cap 5 may be situated nearer to or farther' from the valve mechanism 7. The valve mechanism 7 may,.as shown, be of the well known construct-ion, having a -valve head 8 which is ylcldingly held to the valve seat 9 by a coil spring 10, and which has astem 1l that protrudes beyond the outer end of the valve casing, so that pressimr upon the rotruding end of the stem, the vaIve 8 may lie moved from its seat to permit the discharge of air from Within the tube. The valve 8 is normally closed to revent egressof air from within the tube, rbut yieldsinwa'rdl to permit the ingress of air thereto, in t e well known manner. I

Extending from Within the tire, centrally throu h the stem 1 is an extensible and contractile elastic tube 12, preferably but not necessarily made of rubber, which has a hollow head oriiange 121- at v'the inner end w 'chts'over .the-foot-2 ofthe stem 1, sff'iilrly-lvsecured-,to the latter at within the tire tube.

vbearing tube 17.

the tire end, and at. its outer end said rubber tube l2 is alt-,aclied tothe Yvalve. mechanism 7 by having thi` casing ofthe latter inserted for a portion of its length into the tube, and a llange or rim 13 on the outer end ol the tube clamped between a shoulder 1-l on the valve casing and theouter end of a metal tube 15, the tube 15 at such end being externally threaded for engagement by the thread of a clamping nut 1li. ll).- means of the rubber tube 12, the vulve mechanism 7 is placed in communication with the interior ol the. pneumatic tire, so that. air passing inward through the valve will yenter the tire, and so that pressure from within the tire will be transmitted outward to the valve, and il the outward ressure be unopposed, the valve mechanism will move outward, the rubber tube elongating to permit the outward n'wveinent of the valve mechanism, and of course. at all times maintaining the communication between the interior ol' the tire'tubc and the valve mechanism.

it will be evident that the longitudinal kmovement of the valve mechanism under the pressure within the tire tube, may be utilized to indicate the pressure therein, and to so utilize it, l. attach to the tube 15 a tube 17, byA means el the. screw thread on the outer end of the tube 15, which tube 17 has an external diameter to closely and slidably lit the interior of the stem or casing 1, and l place on the exterior of said tube 17, a suitable scale, or graduation marks, which by cooperation with the to i or outer end of the stem or casing l, y in icates the pressure ln order to enable the outer end of the casing or stem .1 to better serve as an index'for the scale, l bevel the out-er end ot the stem or casing 1 as shown, so `-as to reduce the surface thereol innuediately contiguous to the surface ofthe scale- A key 17 on the tube 17, engaging a longitudinal groove 1tl in the stem, prevents the tube. 17 turning, while permitting it. to slide. (ll course the. resistance. which the rubber tube otlcrs to outward movement ol' the valve, enables said tube to oll'er some ol' the opposing pressure. that is necessary'iu a pressure indicator, but l preferably supplement the resistance which the, rubber tube. oli'ers, by means of two coil springsif and 1S), res ectively. The coil spring 18 passes parta y through the tube 17, and has its inner end tirml" and stationarily secured by beingserr upiin the smaller end ol a flaring ring or noefl() whose* larger end overlaps and is supported.against outward movement by the loot 2 ot' the stem or casing 1, and theouter end of the springsr 18 is screwed on the threaded inner end ot' the tube 15, to which, it will he remembered, the valve mechanism 7 and the scale-bearing tube 1'7 are attached, so that there is an inward pull bythe spring 1S; upon the valve the escape ol air from within the tube, and it.

mechanism through the tube 15. The other coil spring 1li closely surrounds the rubber tube 12 l'rom its inner end outward, and the inner end ol said spring lll is firmly iixed or secured in place by being screwed into the smaller end of a llaring ring or shoe .21 which is seated within the ring or shoe 20, and the outer end of the spring 1S) is enlarged in di ameter so as to engage a shoulder or stop .formed by an outwardly ta )ering enlargement 22 of the interior of tlhe tribe 15, so that when the tube 15 moves outward under pressure, it will carry with it.I the outer end ol the coil s 'ing 19, and thereby elongate the latter. ly this arrangement, the oon- .neciion between ihospring it) and the tube 15 is a loose one, that is to say, there is no positive joining ol' them, so that the assemol ige of the parts is thereby facilitated,` and :Vet a sullieient connection exists between them so that the spring lf) elongated when the valve mechanism moves outward under pressure.

lt will be seen. that with the arrangement illustrated in ifig. 1, where the valve stein 11 protrudes beyond theI valve casing 7 the valve stem 1 1 may be caused to Contact with the outer end of the dust c. 9 5, and thereby the valve pushed inward o its seatl t allow will be evident that by adjustment of the cap 5, either by screwing it upon the tubo or sleeve 6, or by screwing the sleeve or tube 6 along the stem or casing 1, the point at which the discharge of excess or undesirablel pressure will take place, may be regulated. If the autel, matic discharge of pressure from within the' tire be not desired, the ordinary valve cap 23 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, may be ap plied to the valve easing 7, and when said cap is so applied, the tension ol the rubber tube and springs upon the valve mechanism may be taken oli and the indicator thus rendered inactive by screwing the cap far enough inward to bring its outer end against the outer end ol the valvel cap 23. refers ably the outer end of the dust cap 5 is provided with a plug 24 for contact either with the valve stem 11` or the valve cap 23. Instead of the automatio release o1" pressure by moving the valve oil' its seat in the manner l have described, a relielI valve suoli as shown in liig. Il muy be employed, which consists of a casing 25 having at one end an internally threaded portion 20 adapted to le screwed upon. the outer end ol' the valve easing having a valve seat 27 l'or a puppet valve 128 that' is yieldingly held to its seat by means of a spiral spring 29 whose tension may be. adjusted by a nut. 30 to determine the pressure at which the valve will be. lifted from itsseat to enable the escapo oi air from within the tire.

in' view of the Fact that the value mochans ism 7 is not attached to the tireritn, as' is l Ill) it beingT necessary merely to connect and disconnect the valve mechanism with the outer v(it) end oi the rubbertube l2, and this is one ol the l'caturcs of my invention that l cover herein, whether or noty itis used as apart of a pressurey indicator.

.\. very in'iportant feature of my invention,

so far as its indicating thc pressure in the tire is concerned, is that it indicates the actual pressure within the tire, since it is operated by4 the pressure from within the tire, whereas in the case of an indicator which slmws the pressure in the tank or other source of conhiprcssed air, there is a'substantial difference, say from i2 to 20 pounds, between the pressure indicated and that within the tire, because a portieri ofthe pressure is utilized to displace the valve which is held to its seat by a spring. l

What I claim ism y i. The combination of movably mounted valve mechanism, comprising a valve and its seat, the valve being .movable to and from its seat, and pressure-indicat ing means for showing varying pressures, operated by the movement of said mechanism.

2. The combination of movably mounted valve mechanism, comprising a valve and its seat, the'valve being movable to and from its f seat, means for placing said mechanism in communication with the pressure-containing structure, aty all points 1n the movement of said mechanism, and lndicatlng means for showing,r varying ressures, operated by the movement of sai mechanism.

S. The combination of a ystem or casing, adapted to be attached to a Huid-pressure receiving;r structure, a valve mechanism movably mounted in said casing, com )rising a valve. and its seat, to and fromw ich the valve is movable, and indicating means for showing' varying pressures within said structu rc, operated by the movement of said mechanism.

4. The combination of a stem or casing,` adapt ed to be attached to a fluid-pressure rcceiving si ructure, an inwardly opening valve unechanism movably mounted in said casing, an extensible and contract-ible connection between said valve mechanism and the interior oi the pressure-receiving structure,-

(fi. Tho combination ol' Inovalrlv mounted valve mechanism. comprising' a valve and its Sent. the valve beingY movable to and from its`- seat. pressure-iudicating means l'or showing varying' pressures, operati-d by the m'ove- 70 ment oi said mechanism, and automat ie means for moving the valve from its seit under an excess ot' pressure.

7. The combination of' a stem or casing adapted to be attached to a fluid-pressure receiving structure, an inwardlyI opening valve mechanism movably mounted in said casing, an extensible and contractible connection between said valve mechanism and the interior of the pressure-receiving structure, indicating means operated by saidvalve mechanism, and a spring opposing the movement of the indicating means by pressure on the valve mechanism.

8. The combination with a pneumatic tire, g5 pressure-imlicating means, and means f or operating the pressure -indicating means, comprising a movable part, receiving pressure from within the tire, and an expansible and contractible tube connected to said part and to the tire, and establishing communication between the interior of the tire and said part.

9. The combin ation with a pneumatic tire, of a pressure indicator comprising a slidable tube and a tube attached to the tire, an elastic tube attached to said slidable tube and leading from the interior of the tire and hav-I in f a head or flange, and means for clamping sald head or flange to the't-ire. 100

10. The combination with a pneumatic tire, of a pressure indicator comprising a tube or casing.,r attached to the tire for showing varying pressures within the tire, and a memi ber slidably connect ed with said tube or eas-I ing, having a pressure-receiving part in coin.- munication with the interior of the tire,

11. The combination of movably moufmei valve mechanism, comprising a, valve and its seat, to and from which the valve is movable, pressure indicating means operated by the movement of such mechanism, a spring yieldingly opposing thc movement of the indicating means by pressure, and means to positively preven't movement of the indicator by 115 pressure on said mechanisml 12. The combination oimovably mounted valve mechanism, comprising a valve and its seat, to and f rom which the valve is movable, pressure indicating means operated bythe 12o movement of such mechanism, a spring'yicldingly opposing the movement of the indicating means by pressure, and a screw cap adapted to engage the valve mechanism and hold it fronrmovement by pressure.

` 13v The combination with a pneumatic tire, of a pressure indicator comprising a slidable tube and a'tube attached to the tire, a valve mechanism attached to said slidablc tube comprising a valve and its seat, to and from which hu 'alve is movable, an elastic Uilm mlm-lied in said siidaibie tube and 102ML ing 'fumi the imm-im? ui the tire and having :L head or fimige, und iiiciiis for @humping :nid 5 `head or iizmge m the (im.

14. Thecmubimiimi' mi :L pressure indica-- tui' having zi spi-ing acting yieidiugly in opposi-ioii to press-uic to imiv the/indicator, und. 

